Door locking assembly for a storage container

ABSTRACT

A locking assembly for a door of a storage container is provided. The storage container defines a door frame, and the door is movably mounted to the door frame. The locking assembly may include a first keeper secured to the door frame, a first locking cam configured to movably engage the first keeper, and a handle assembly coupled to the first locking cam. The handle assembly may be movable between a first position in which the handle assembly is in contact with the door frame and the first locking cam engages the first keeper to maintain the door in the closed position relative to the door frame and a second position in which the first locking cam disengages the first keeper to allow the door to open. The first and second positions of the handle assembly illustratively define an obtuse angle therebetween.

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/069,889, filed Mar. 19, 2008,the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference in itsentirety. This application is a continuation and claims benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/225,576 filed Mar. 26, 2014, which is acontinuation and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/537,794 filed Jun. 29, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,720,957, which is acontinuation and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/406,563 filed Mar. 18, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,231,150, theentirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to storage containers, such asmobile storage containers, having one or more access doors, and morespecifically to locking assemblies for maintaining such one or moredoors in a closed or an open position.

BACKGROUND

Door locking assemblies for storage containers generally, and for mobilestorage containers specifically, are known. It is desirable to improvethe structure and/or operation of such door locking assemblies.

SUMMARY

The present invention may comprise one or more of the features recitedin the attached claims, and/or one or more of the following features andcombinations thereof.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a locking assembly isprovided for a door of a storage container. Illustratively, the storagecontainer defines a door frame and the door is movably mounted to thedoor frame. The locking assembly includes a lockrod configured to becoupled to the door, a locking cam coupled to an end of the lockrod, anda handle assembly coupled to the locking cam and configured for axialmovement relative to the locking cam in a direction generallyperpendicular to the lockrod.

In one illustrative embodiment, the locking cam may include a protrusionhaving a lateral slot formed therein. Further, the handle assembly mayinclude a clevis configured to receive the protrusion between a firstand second arm of the clevis. A fastener of the handle assembly may bereceived through an aperture of each of the first and second arms of theclevis and the slot of the protrusion such that the handle assembly ismovable along an axis defined by the slot. Further illustratively, theprotrusion may include a tab coupled to a top surface thereof andconfigured to engage one of the arms of the clevis in order to preventrotation of the handle assembly relative to the locking cam. The lockingcam may also include a stem coupled to the end of the lockrod and a cambody coupled to the stem. Illustratively, the cam body may include afirst lobe and a second lobe spaced-apart from the first lobe to definea channel therebetween. The protrusion may be coupled to the second lobeof the locking cam.

In another illustrative embodiment, the handle assembly may beconfigured to be removably coupled to both a bottom frame member of thedoor frame and a side rail of the trailer coupled to the door frame andextending along a side of the trailer.

In still another illustrative embodiment, the handle assembly mayinclude a first lock member configured to be received through a firstaperture formed in the door frame and a second lock member configured tobe received through a second aperture formed in the door frame when thehandle assembly is in a locked position relative to the door frame.Illustratively, the first lock member may include a cylindrical rod anda tab member extending outwardly therefrom. The second lock member mayinclude a hook-shaped protrusion. Further, the handle assembly may alsoinclude an elongated lever coupled to the locking cam and a handlepivotably coupled to the elongated lever. Illustratively, the first lockmember may be coupled to the handle and the second lock member may becoupled to the lever. The elongated lever may include a first endcoupled to the locking cam, a second end pivotably coupled to thehandle, and a flange positioned between the first end and the secondend. Further, the handle may be movable relative to the lever between afirst position adjacent the flange and a second position spaced-apartfrom the flange of the elongated lever. Illustratively, the handle andthe first lock member may be pivotable approximately 180° about a pivotaxis relative to the lever.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a lockingassembly for a door of a storage container defining a door frameincludes a first keeper secured to the door frame, a first locking camconfigured to movably engage the first keeper, and a handle assemblycoupled to the first locking cam. Illustratively, the handle assembly ismovable between a first position in which the handle assembly is incontact with the door frame and the first locking cam engages the firstkeeper to maintain the door in the closed position relative to the doorframe and a second position in which the first locking cam disengagesthe first keeper to allow the door to open. Illustratively, the firstand second positions of the handle assembly define an obtuse angletherebetween.

In one illustrative embodiment, the door frame may include at least oneside frame member extending between a top frame member and a bottomframe member, and the door may be movably mounted to the at least oneside frame member. Illustratively, the first keeper may be secured tothe bottom frame member and the locking assembly may further include asecond keeper secured to the top frame member. The locking assembly mayalso include a second locking cam configured to movably engage thesecond keeper and an elongated lockrod having the first locking cammounted to one end thereof and the second locking cam mounted to anopposite end thereof. Illustratively, the lockrod may be rotatable viamovement of the handle assembly to cause the first and second lockingcams to move relative to the first and second keepers respectively.

In another illustrative embodiment, the handle assembly may include anelongated lever having one end coupled to the first locking cam and ahandle movably mounted to an opposite end thereof. The handle may bemovable relative to the lever between a first position in which thehandle engages the bottom frame member of the door frame to secure thehandle assembly to the bottom frame member and a second position inwhich the handle disengages the bottom frame member of the door frame toallow movement of the handle assembly relative to the bottom framemember. Further illustratively, the locking assembly may include ahandle lock member extending from the handle. The handle lock member maybe configured to extend into the first locking passageway and engage thebottom frame member when the handle is in the first position anddisengage the bottom frame member when the handle is in the secondposition. The bottom frame member may further define a second lockingpassageway therein that is spaced apart from the first lockingpassageway and the lever may define a lever lock member extendingtherefrom adjacent to the one end thereof. Illustratively, the leverlock member may be configured to extend into the second lockingpassageway when the handle assembly is moved to the first positionthereof in which the handle assembly is in contact with the bottom framemember. Further illustratively, the lever lock member and the handlelock member may each be configured to engage the bottom frame member tosecure the handle assembly to the bottom frame member when the handle ismoved to the first position thereof. Illustratively, one end of thelever may be movably mounted to the first locking cam to allow axialmovement of the lever relative to the first locking cam.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a storagecontainer includes a rear frame and a door mounted in the rear frame.The rear frame includes a top frame member, a bottom frame member andtwo side frame members coupled to and extending between the top andbottom frame members. The bottom frame member includes a first lockingaperture formed therein and a second locking aperture spaced-apart fromthe first locking aperture. The storage container further includes alockrod mounted to the door, a lockrod cam coupled to a bottom end ofthe lockrod, and a lockrod keeper coupled to the bottom frame member ofthe rear frame and configured to receive the lockrod cam therein. Ahandle assembly of the storage container is coupled to the lockrod camand movable between a locked position wherein the handle assembly iscoupled to the bottom frame member and an unlocked position wherein thehandle assembly is spaced-apart from the bottom frame member.Illustratively, the handle assembly includes a first lock member and asecond lock member. The first lock member is configured to be receivedwithin the first locking aperture when the handle assembly is in thelocked position, and the second lock member is configured to be receivedwithin the second locking aperture when the handle assembly is in thelocked position.

In one illustrative embodiment, the storage container may furtherinclude a base rail coupled to the bottom frame member and configured toextend along a side of the storage container. The base side rail mayinclude a third locking aperture formed therein and configured toreceive the first lock member therethrough when the door of the storagecontainer is in a fully opened position adjacent a sidewall of thestorage container. Further illustratively, the base rail may include afourth locking aperture spaced-apart from the third locking aperture andconfigured to receive the second lock member therethrough when the doorof the storage container is in the fully opened position.

In another illustrative embodiment, the first locking aperture may begenerally keyhole-shaped and the second locking aperture may begenerally circularly- shaped.

In still another illustrative embodiment, the handle assembly mayinclude a lever having a first end coupled to the lockrod cam andconfigured for axial movement relative thereto, and a handle coupled toa second end of the lever for pivoting movement relative thereto.Illustratively, the first lock member may be coupled to the handle andthe second lock member may be coupled to the lever.

In any case, the storage container may comprise a transportable storagecontainer configured to store one or more objects therein. For example,the storage container may comprise one of a towable trailer and astraight truck body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a trailer having a door lockingassembly including two door locking mechanisms for maintaining reardoors of the trailer in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a lower portion of one of thedoor locking mechanisms shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a handle assembly of the doorlocking mechanism of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the trailer and thedoor locking mechanism of FIGS. 2 and 3 showing the door lockingmechanism in a locked position.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of an inside surface of a portion of one ofthe rear doors of the trailer showing lock members of the handleassembly received within apertures formed in a bottom frame member orsill of the trailer when the door locking mechanism is in the lockedposition.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 showing a handle of thedoor locking mechanism in an unlocked or open position.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view similar to FIG. 5 showing one of the lockmembers rotated to an unlocked position for alignment with asimilarly-shaped aperture formed in the bottom sill.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the handle assembly ofFIGS. 1-9 showing a lever of the handle assembly in a first positionadjacent a lower locking cam of the door locking mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 8 showing the lever movedto a second surface position away from the lower locking cam to define agap between one end of the lever and the lower locking cam.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 4 and 6 showing thehandle assembly being drawn away from the rear frame of the trailer.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 4, 6, and 8 showing thehandle assembly drawn sufficiently away from the rear frame of thetrailer to allow the trailer door to open.

FIG. 12 is an exploded, perspective view of an upper portion of the doorlocking mechanism of FIGS. 2-10 showing an upper locking cam and anupper bearing plate.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the door lockingmechanism shown when the handle assembly has been drawn sufficientlyaway from the rear frame of the trailer to allow the trailer door toopen.

FIG. 14 is a side, perspective view the trailer showing the rear door ofthe trailer, including the locking mechanism of FIGS. 2-13 coupledthereto, in a fully opened position adjacent to a bottom side rail of aside wall of the trailer.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 14 showing the lockingmechanism engaged with the bottom, side rail of the trailer and alsoshowing the handle assembly in the locked position to secure the lockingmechanism to the bottom rail of the trailer when the rear door is in thefully opened position.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another handle assembly of the doorlocking mechanism of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of an insert configured to bereceived within an aperture of the bottom sill and/or bottom, side railof the trailer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to a number of illustrativeembodiments shown in the attached drawings and specific language will beused to describe the same. While the concepts of this disclosure aredescribed in relation to a towable trailer, it will be understood thatthey are equally applicable to storage containers generally, and morespecifically to transportable containers for transporting one or moreobjects, examples of which include, but should not be limited to,straight truck bodies, mobile storage containers, small personal and/orcommercial trailers and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 1, one illustrative embodiment of a conventionaltrailer 10 is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the trailer 10includes a pair of opposing side walls 12 that extend the length of thetrailer 10 and that are each attached at a front end thereof to a frontwall 14. Each sidewall 12 is affixed at a bottom end thereof to a sideor base rail 13, and at a top end to a top rail 15. Rear ends of eachsidewall 12 are attached to a rear frame 16 of the trailer 10 thatincludes a bottom frame member or sill 18, and a pair of side framemembers 20 and 22 extending upwardly from opposites ends of the sill 18and connected at their opposite ends to a top frame member 24. Thetrailer 10 includes a locking assembly 25 that is generally mounted tothe top frame member 24 and also to the bottom frame member or sill 18.The locking assembly 25 is further configured to be attached to each oftwo rear doors 28, 30 that are mounted to the side frame members 20 and22, respectively, in a conventional manner such that the door 28 ishingedly coupled to and swings relative to the side frame member 20between opened and closed positions, and the other door 30 is hingedlycoupled to and swings relative to the side frame member 22 between openand closed positions.

As shown in FIG. 1, the locking assembly 25 includes a pair of doorlocking mechanisms 32 and 34 that are each configured to engage arespective one of the doors 28, 30. In particular, the door lockingmechanism 32 is coupled to the door 28 while the door locking mechanism34 is coupled to the door 30. The door locking mechanisms 32, 34 areprovided to maintain each respective door 28, 30 in either a closedposition or a fully open position as will be described herein. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the door 28 is hingedly mounted to theside frame member 20 and the door 30 is hingedly mounted to the sideframe member 22. The opposite free side of each of the doors 28, 30 isconfigured to engage the free side of the other of each of the doors 28,30 when the doors 28, 30 are in their closed positions, as shown inFIG. 1. Illustratively, the door locking mechanisms 32, 34 are generallypositioned adjacent the free side of the respective door 28, 30 to whicheach is coupled. While FIG. 1 and the embodiments described hereinillustrate the door locking mechanisms 32, 34 for use with aconventional two-door trailer 10, it is understood that the each of thedoor locking mechanisms 32, 34 may be used with a trailer or otherstorage container in which only one rear door is provided.

For purposes of this document, structural embodiments and operation ofthe door locking mechanism 34 will be illustrated and described herein,although it will be understood that the door locking mechanism 32 isidentical in configuration and operation. As shown in FIG. 1 anddiscussed in greater detail below, the door locking mechanism 34includes an elongated lockrod 36 attached at an upper end thereof to anupper locking cam 142 (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13) that is configured toreleasably engage an upper lockrod keeper 145 (shown in FIG. 13) mountedto the top frame member 24 of the trailer 10. The opposite, or bottom,end of the lockrod 36 is likewise attached to a lower locking cam 42(shown in FIG. 2, for example) that is configured to releasably engage alower lockrod keeper 45 (shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 10, and 11) mounted to thelower frame member or sill 18 of the trailer 10. The door lockingmechanism 34 further includes a handle assembly 46 (shown in FIGS. 2 and3) that is operatively connected to the lower locking cam 42.Illustratively, the lockrod 36 of each door locking mechanism 32, 34 ispositioned adjacent the free side of the door 28, 30 to which it isattached and is coupled to the respective door 28, 30 at both upper andlower ends thereof via bearing plates 120, as discussed in greaterdetail below.

As noted above, the door locking mechanism 32 is substantially identicalto the door locking mechanism 34, and similarly includes an elongatedlockrod 36 attached at one end thereof to an upper locking cam 142 thatis configured to releasably engage an upper lockrod keeper 145 mountedto the top frame member 22. The opposite end of the lockrod 36 islikewise attached to a lower locking cam 42 that is configured toreleasably engage a lower lockrod keeper 45 mounted to the lower framemember or sill 18. The door locking mechanism 32 further includes ahandle assembly 46 that is operatively connected to the lower lockingcam 42. The lockrods 36 of each of the door locking mechanisms 32, 34are illustratively cylindrical, although this disclosure contemplatesembodiments in which the cross-sectional shapes of the lockrods 36 arenon-circular as well.

Looking now to FIG. 2, the lower locking cam 42 of the door lockingmechanism 34 includes a stem 50 received within the lower end of thelockrod 36. The stem 50 is coupled to a cam body 52 defining a pair oflobes 54, 56 separated by a gap or channel 57. The cam body 52 extendsupwardly to define a neck portion 59 and a first collar 58 that extendsabout the neck portion 59. The lower locking cam 42 further defines asecond collar 60 that is separated from the first collar 58 by a channel62. As shown in FIG. 2, the stem 50 of the locking cam 42 extendsupwardly from the upper collar 60.

The lower locking cam 42 further includes a protrusion 62 coupled to thecam body 52 and positioned adjacent the lobe 56 to extend outwardly in alateral direction therefrom. As shown in FIG. 2, the protrusion 62defines a slot 64 formed therein and a tab 66 coupled to a top surfaceof the protrusion 62 and configured to extend rearwardly therefrom. Asis discussed in greater detail below, the protrusion 62 is coupled tothe handle assembly 46 by a fastener received through the slot 64 andthe handle assembly 46 in order to allow the handle assembly 46 to movelaterally relative to the protrusion 62 between a first and secondpositions. Illustratively the tab 66 serves to inhibit rotation of thehandle assembly 46 relative to the locking cam 42 by contacting a tab 78of a generally U-shaped clevis 74 of the lever 70 and restrictingmovement of the yoke 74 relative to the protrusion 62.

Looking again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle assembly 46 includes anelongated lever 70 and a handle 72 pivotably coupled to the lever 70 formovement relative to the lever between a first, locked position (shownin FIG. 4) and a second, unlocked position (shown in FIG. 6). As notedabove, the lever 70 of the handle assembly 46 is movably mounted to thelower locking cam 42 for lateral movement relative thereto.Illustratively, the lever 70 includes a first end having the clevis 74including a first arm or tab 76 and a second arm or tab 78 spaced-apartfrom the first tab 76. Each tab 76, 78 includes an aperture 80 formedtherein and configured to receive a fastener, such as a bolt 82therethrough. As shown in FIG. 2, the protrusion 62 of the locking cam42 is received between the first and second tabs 76, 78 of the clevis74, and the bolt 82 is received through the aperture 80 of the first tab76, the slot 64 of the protrusion 62, and the aperture 80 of the secondtab 78 in order to slidably couple the lever 70 to the locking cam 42.With the pin or bolt 82 extending successively through the aperture 80of the tab 76, the slot 64 and the aperture 80 of the tab 78, the handleassembly 46 is configured to translate or move along the axis defined bythe elongated slot 64 such that the handle assembly 46 generally, andthe lever 70 specifically, can move axially toward and away from thelocking cam 42 in a direction generally perpendicular to the lockrod 36.

The elongated lever 70 further includes a second end including a firsttab 86 having an aperture 88 formed therein and a second tab 90 spacedapart from the first tab 86. A flange 79 of the elongated lever 70 ispositioned between the first and second ends of the elongated lever 70and extends outwardly from a front surface 71 of the elongated lever 70.Illustratively, the flange 79 includes an aperture 84 formed therein.The elongated lever 70 further includes a generally hook-shaped lockmember or protrusion 92 extending outwardly from a rear surface 73 ofthe tab 78, as shown in FIG. 3. In the illustrated embodiment, theprotrusion 92 is hooked-shaped to facilitate engagement of theprotrusion 92 with an aperture or locking passageway 170 formed in thesill 18 (shown in FIGS. 5-7), although this disclosure contemplatesother shapes of the protrusion 92. As is discussed in greater detailbelow, the protrusion 92 is received within the locking passageway 170adjacent the lockrod keeper 45 in order to secure the handle assembly 46to the trailer 10 in its locked position.

As noted above, the handle 72 of the handle assembly 46 is coupled tothe lever 70 for pivoting movement of the handle 72 relative thereto.Illustratively, the handle 72 includes a grip portion 100, a tab 102coupled to a first end of the grip portion 100, and a generally U-shapedclevis 104 coupled to a second end of the grip portion 100, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. The tab 102 is configured to be positioned adjacent theflange 79 of the lever 70 when the handle 72 is in the closed or lockedposition shown in FIG. 4 and includes an aperture 105 formed therein.Thus, when the handle 72 is in the locked position, the aperture 105 ofthe handle 72 and the aperture 84 of the flange 79 are configured toalign with each other and receive a fastener or other conventionallocking device, such as a screw, bolt, padlock, pin, or the like inorder to secure the handle 72 to the lever 70. As such, the handle 72 isprevented from being pivotably moved relative to the lever 70 to anunlocked position. In other words, securing a fastener or otherconventional lock through the apertures 84, 105 of the respective flange79 and the handle 72 maintains the handle 72 in the locked positionrelative to the elongated lever 70.

The clevis 104 of the handle 72 includes a first arm or tab 106 coupledto the grip portion 100 and a arm or second tab 108 spaced-apart fromthe first tab 106. A second lock member or protrusion 110 of the handle72 is coupled to and extends outwardly in a rearward direction from thesecond tab 108. As shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 110 is generallycylindrical in shape to define a longitudinal axis 175 and includes atab 112 extending outwardly therefrom. The protrusion 110 and tab 108includes an aperture 114 formed therethrough. Illustratively, the clevis104 is configured to receive the tab 86 of the lever 70 therein suchthat the aperture 107 of the tab 106, the aperture 88 of the tab 86 ofthe lever 70, and the aperture 114 of the tab 108 are aligned with eachother and able to receive a fastener, such as a bolt or pin 116,therethrough, in order to pivotably couple the handle 72 to the lever70.

As shown in FIG. 2, the locking mechanism 34 further includes a bearingplate 120 configured to be coupled to the locking cam 42 and the door 30of the trailer 10. Illustratively, the bearing plate 120 defines achannel 121 having a generally semi- circular cross-sectional shapeconfigured to receive at least a portion of the lockrod 36 and stem 50of the locking cam 42 therein. Side flanges 123 of the bearing plate 120include apertures 125 configured to receive fasteners, such as rivets,screws, or bolts 126 (shown in FIG. 4, for example) in order to securethe bearing plate 120 to the door 30 of the trailer 10. Illustratively,as shown in FIG. 12 with regards to an upper bearing plate 120, the door18 may include pre-drilled holes 129 into which the fasteners 126 arereceived. A lower portion 122 of the bearing plate 120 is illustrativelyrolled to form a bottom surface (not shown) that is received within thechannel 62 between the collars 58 and 60 of the locking cam 42 in orderto coupled the bearing plate 120 to the locking cam 42. This rolledsurface further extends at least partially about the locking cam 42within the channel 62 such that the rolled surface of the bearing plate120 is captured within the channel 62 between the collars 58, 60 of thelocking cam 42.

Looking now to FIGS. 12 and 13, the door locking assembly 34 furtherincludes the upper locking cam 142 including a stem 150 received withinthe upper end of the lockrod 36. The stem 150 is coupled to a cam body152 defining a pair of lobes 154, 156 separated by a gap or channel 157.The cam body 152 extends downwardly to define a neck portion 159 and acollar 158 that extends about the neck portion 159. The upper lockingcam 142 further defines a second collar 160 that is separated from thefirst collar 158 by a channel 162. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the stem150 of the locking cam 142 extends downwardly from the lower collar 160.

Likewise, as most clearly shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, an upper portion 124of the upper bearing plate 120 is rolled to form a surface 127 that isreceived within the channel 162 of the upper locking cam 142 definedbetween the first and second collars 158, 160. The bearing plate 120 isattached to the door 30 adjacent to the free side and adjacent top ofthe door 30. With the upper, rolled surface 127 of the upper bearingplate 120 and the lower, rolled surface (not shown) of the lower bearingplate 120 received within the respective channels 162, 62 justdescribed, axial motion of the lockrod 36 is inhibited whilesimultaneously allowing rotation of the lockrod 36 relative to the upperand lower bearing plates 120. This feature prevents so-called racking ofthe lockrod 36 relative to the upper and lower bearing plates 120 andthe door 30.

As discussed above, the door locking mechanism 34 further includes thelower lockrod keeper 45 and the upper lockrod keeper 145.Illustratively, the lower lockrod keeper 45 is coupled to the bottomsill 18 of the trailer 10 and is configured to receive the cam body 52of the lower locking cam 42 therein. Similarly, the upper lockrod keeper145 is coupled to the top frame member 24 of the trailer 10 and isconfigured to receive the cam body 152 of the upper locking cam 142therein. The lower keeper 45 that is attached to the bottom frame memberor sill 18 defines lobes 81, 83, 85, wherein the lobe 81 defines achannel 87 therein. The lobes 83, 85 of the keeper 45 define a gaptherebetween that is sized to receive a portion of the cam body 52therein. The lobes 54 and 81 of the locking cam 42 and lower keeper 45respectively are configured such that the lobe 54 of the locking cam 42is received within the channel 87 defined in the lobe 81 of the lowerkeeper 45. In operation, the lobes 54 and 81 are engaged and disengagedat a predefined angle of the handle assembly 46 relative to the planedefined by the sill or lower frame member 18, as is discussed in greaterdetail below.

Similar to the lower lockrod keeper 45, the upper lockrod keeper 145that is attached to the top frame member 22 defines lobes 181, 183, 185,wherein the lobe 181 defines a channel (not shown) therein. The lobes183, 185 define a gap or channel therebetween that is sized to receive aportion of the cam body 152 therein. Illustratively, the love 154 of thelocking cam 142 is configured to be received within the channel of thelobe 181 of the upper lockrod keeper 145. The lobes 154 and 181 areengaged and disengaged at a predefined angle of the handle assembly 46relative to the plane defined by the bottom frame member 18.

In use, as noted above, the door locking mechanism 34 is movable betweena fully locked position (shown in FIG. 2) and a fully unlocked position(shown in FIG. 11) whereby the door 30 is able to be opened relative tothe rear trailer frame 16. Illustratively, in the fully locked position,the lock member 110 of the handle 72 is received within a key-shapedlocking aperture 172 formed in the bottom sill 18 of the trailer 10, asshown in FIG. 5. Illustratively, as shown in FIG. 5, the aperture orlocking passageway 172 defines a first passageway 177 in communicationwith a smaller, adjacent passageway 179. This configuration of thelocking passageway 172 corresponds to one illustrative configuration ofthe protrusion or locking cam 110. Illustratively, the tab 112 of theprotrusion 110 is adjacent to and engaged with a rear surface 173 of thesill 18 and is approximately 180° out of alignment with the passageway179 of the aperture 172 such that the tab 112 operates as a latch tocouple and secure the handle assembly 46 to the sill 18 and prevent auser from moving the handle assembly 46 away from the sill 18. Further,the protrusion or other lock member 92 of the lever 70 of the handleassembly 46 is received within the aperture 170 also formed in the sill18 such that the end portion 93 of the lock member 92 is adjacent to andengaged with the rear surface 173 of the sill 18. As such, the endportion of the lock member 92 similarly operates as a latch to furtherprevent the handle assembly 46 from being moved away from the sill 18.

In order to move the handle 72 to an unlocked position relative to thelever 70, the user must first remove any fasteners or other such locksfrom within the apertures 84, 105 of the lever 70 and the handle 72.Next, the handle 72 is pivoted about an offset pivot axis 174 defined bythe bolt 116, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7. Illustratively, thehandle 72 is pivoted or rotated in a clockwise direction approximately180° such that the tab 112 of the lock member 110 of the handle 72 isaligned with the corresponding passageway 179 of the aperture 172 thesill 18 in order to prevent the tab 112 from catching on the sill 18 andallow the lock member 110 to be removed from within the aperture 172.With this motion, the lock member 110 of the handle 72 is disengagedfrom the aperture or locking passageway 172 defined in the bottom sill18. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a user may then slide the lever 70relative to the locking cam 42 in a direction 176 away from the lockingcam 42 in order to move the lock member 92 of the lever 70 relative tothe sill 18 of the trailer and prevent the end portion 93 of the lockmember 92 from catching on the sill 18. As noted in FIG. 9, sliding thehandle assembly 46 relative to the lower locking cam 42 creates a gap178 between an end of the protrusion 62 and an inner surface 180 of theclevis 74 of the lever 70 when the handle assembly 46 is fully extended.Likewise, in FIG. 8, the handle assembly 46 has been advanced toward theprotrusion 62 to cause the gap 178 to disappear. This linear movement ofthe handle assembly 46 generally, and of the lever 70 specifically,further serves to facilitate locating the lock members 92 and 110relative to the locking passageways 170 and 172 respectively of the sill18 so that the lock members 92, 110 can be guided therein. Inparticular, linear movement of the handle assembly 46 to close the gap178 causes the end 93 of the hook-shaped lock member 92 to catch on theportion of the bottom frame member surrounding the locking aperture 170in order to secure the handle assembly 46 to the bottom frame member 18.

Once the handle assembly 46 is unlocked from the sill 18 of the trailer10, the user may rotate the entire handle assembly 46, locking cam 42,and locking rod 36 relative to the upper and lower lockrod keepers 145,45 about a pivot axis 182 defined by the lockrod 36. As the handleassembly 46 is drawn away from the sill or lower frame member 18 asillustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the locking cam 42 and the lockrod 36both rotate relative to the lockrod keeper 45 and relative to the door30. Illustratively, the lower keeper 45 and the locking cam 42 areconfigured such that the lobe 54 engages and disengages the channel 87defined in the lobe 81 of the keeper 45 at a predefined obtuse angle ofthe handle assembly 46 relative to the plane defined by the sill orlower frame member 18. In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG.11, this predefined angle is approximately 150° so that the lobe 54 ofthe cam 42 will not disengage the channel 87 defined in the lobe 81 ofthe keeper, and the door 17 therefore will not open, until the handleassembly 38B is rotated at least approximately 150°, as illustrated inFIG. 11, from its fully closed position in contact with the bottom framemember or sill 18 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. It will beunderstood, however, that the angle of approximately 150° is providedonly by way of example, and that other obtuse angles generally, i.e.,greater than 90° and up to 180°, may be used.

As with the lower locking cam 42 and lower lockrod keeper 45, the lobes154 and 181 of the upper locking cam 142 and the upper lockrod keeper145, respectively, are configured such that the lobe 154 is receivedwithin the channel 187 and the lobes 154 and 181 are engaged anddisengaged at a predefined obtuse angle of the handle assembly 46relative to the plane defined by the sill or lower frame member 18. Thedoor 30 may thus be opened when the angle between the handle assembly 46is moved to a position that is greater than or equal to the predefinedobtuse angle, and at angles less than the obtuse angle the upper lockingcam 142 engages the upper lockrod keeper 145 and the lower locking cam42 engages the lower lockrod keeper 45 so that the door 30 remains in aclosed position.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, the handle assembly 46 and the baserail 13 of the trailer 10 are both configured to allow the handleassembly 46 to be secured to the base rail 13 so that the door 30 canthereby be secured to the bottom rail 13 in its fully open position. Asillustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the door 30 in a fully opened positionadjacent the sidewall 12 of the trailer 10. Similar to the bottom framemember 18, the bottom, side rail 13 defines two locking passageways 270and 272 therein. The locking passageway 272 defines an opening 277 and asmaller opening 279 in communication with the opening 277 such that thepassageway 272 is generally keyhole-shaped. In other words, the lockingpassageway 272 is illustratively configured identically to the lockingpassageway 172 defined in the sill or bottom frame member 18. Similarly,the locking passageway 270 is illustratively configured identically tothe locking passageway 170 defined in the bottom frame member 18, asshown in FIG. 5. Furthermore, the locking passageways 270 and 272 aresized and positioned on to the bottom rail 13 so as to receive andengage the lock members 110 and 92 respectively.

When the handle 72 is moved from its open position, as illustrated inFIG. 14, to its closed position as illustrated in FIG. 15, the lockmember 110 of the handle 72 rotates approximately 180° about the offsetpivot axis 174 such that the tab 112 of the protrusion 110 engages aportion of the bottom rail 13 surrounding, or adjacent to, the lockingpassageway 372. As also illustrated in FIG. 15, the handle assembly 46is secured to the bottom rail 13 by engaging the lock member 92 with thebottom rail 13 about, or adjacent to, the locking passageway 370 and byengaging the lock member 110 with the bottom rail 13 about, or adjacentto, the locking passageway 372, by rotating the handle 72 about theoffset pivot axis 174 from its open position (illustrated in FIGS. 14and 15) to its closed position (illustrated in FIG. 15) when the lockmember 110 is completely received within the locking passageway 372.Similarly, the handle assembly 46 is unsecured, or released, from thebottom rail 13 by disengaging the lock member 92 from the bottom rail 13about, or adjacent to, the locking passageway 370 and by disengaging thelock member 110 from the bottom rail 13 about, or adjacent to, thelocking passageway 372, by rotating the handle 72 from its closedposition to its opened position. Illustratively, therefore, the handleassembly 46 is secured to, and unsecured from, the sill 18 in the sameas or substantially similar manner in which the handle assembly issecured to the side frame 13.

Looking now to FIG. 16, another lower locking cam 242 and handleassembly 246 are provided. Illustratively, many of the features of thelocking cam 242 and handle assembly 246 are the same as or similar tothe features of the locking cam 42 and handle assembly 46 shown in FIGS.1-11. As such, like reference numerals are used to denote like featuresor components. In contrast to the locking cam 42 and handle assembly 44shown in FIGS. 1-11, however, the locking cam 242 includes a clevis 274and the handle assembly 246 includes a first end 262 received within theclevis 274 in order to slidably couple the handle assembly 246 to thelocking cam 242. The first end 262 includes an aperture (not shown) suchthat a fastener, such as a pin 282 is received within an aperture 280formed in each tab 276, 278 of the clevis 274 as well as the slot of thelever 270 of the handle assembly 246 such that the lever 270 is movably,e.g., rotatably, mounted to the clevis 274 to allow relative movementtherebetween. Alternatively, the first end 262 of the lever 270 may beconfigured to define a slot (not shown) for receiving the pin 282therethrough in order to allow the lever 270 to move axially relative tothe locking cam 242. Further illustratively, the lock member 92 iscoupled to and extending rearwardly outwardly from the tab 278 of thelocking cam 242, as shown in FIG. 16.

Looking now to FIG. 17, an insert 300 is provided to be press-fit orsnapped within a generally circular aperture 302 of another lower sillplate 318 of the trailer 10. Illustratively, the insert 300 is made of aplastic material; however, it is understood that other suitablematerials, including metals, for example, may be used as well. As shownin FIG. 17, the insert 300 includes circular body or end wall 304, acylindrical wall 306 having a first end coupled to a perimeter of thebody 304 and extending downwardly therefrom, and a flange 308 extendingoutwardly around a perimeter of a second end of the wall 306.Illustratively, the circular body 304 includes an aperture 372 formedtherethrough. As shown in FIG. 17, the aperture 372 of the insert 300 isthe same shape and size as the aperture 172 formed in the sill plate 18of the trailer 10, as shown in FIGS. 5, 7, 10, and 11. As such, theaperture 372 includes a first passageway 377 in communication with asmaller, adjacent passageway 179 to define a generally keyhole-shapedpassageway 372. The insert 300 further includes apertures 310 formedthrough the flange 308. In use, the insert 300 is press-fit or snappedinto the aperture 302 formed in the sill 318 such that a rear surface(not shown) of the flange 308 is adjacent a front surface 319 of thesill 318. The position of the insert 300 may be adjusted in order toalign the apertures 310 of the insert 300 with pre-drilled apertures 312formed in the sill 318 and a fastener, such as a rivet, screw, bolt,etc., may be inserted through each of the apertures 310, 312 in order tocouple the insert 300 to the sill 318. While the insert 300 isillustratively shown to be received within the aperture 302 of thebottom sill 318, it should be understood that the insert may be receivedwithin other apertures formed in the trailer 10. For example, the siderail 13 of the trailer 10 may include a similar aperture 302 rather thanthe aperture 272 shown in FIG. 14 in order for receiving the insert 300therein.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in theforegoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described andthat all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of theinvention are desired to be protected.

What is claimed is:
 1. A locking assembly for a door of a storagecontainer, the storage container defining a door frame, the door movablymounted to the door frame, the locking assembly comprising: a lockrodconfigured to be coupled to the door; a locking cam coupled to an end ofthe lockrod and adapted to engage a lockrod keeper coupled to the doorframe; and a handle assembly coupled to the locking cam, wherein thehandle assembly includes an elongated lever having one end coupled tothe locking cam and a handle pivotably coupled to an opposite endthereof by a pin defining an offset pivot axis, wherein the handleincludes a lock member coupled to the handle for pivoting movementtherewith about a pivot axis and relative to the elongated lever, andwherein the lock member defines a cylindrical shape having alongitudinal axis spaced-apart from the pivot axis and configured topivot about the offset pivot axis.
 2. The locking assembly of claim 1,wherein the lock member is movable between a first position wherein thelock member is configured to be received through an aperture in the doorframe and a second position wherein the lock member is pivoted relativeto the elongated lever and a portion of the lock member is configured toengage an inner surface of the door frame, and wherein the offset pivotaxis of the lock member causes an outer surface of the cylindrical lockmember to engage and act upon an outer edge defining the aperture of thedoor frame through which the lock member is received in order to movethe lock member with the elongated lever in the axial direction relativeto the locking cam when the lock member is moved from the first positionto the second position.
 3. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein thelock member is configured to pivot approximately 180 degrees from thefirst position to the second position.
 4. The locking assembly of claim2, wherein the lock member includes a tab extending outwardly therefromand wherein the tab is configured to engage the inner surface of thedoor frame when the lock member is in the second position.
 5. Thelocking assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated lever includes aflange positioned between opposite ends of the elongated lever, andwherein the handle is movable relative to the elongated lever between afirst position wherein one end of the handle is adjacent the flange anda second position wherein the same end of the handle is spaced-apartfrom the flange.
 6. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein one of thelocking cam and the handle assembly includes a lateral slot and whereinthe other one of the locking cam and the handle assembly is coupledthereto through the lateral slot in order to provide for axial movementof the handle assembly relative to the locking cam along the lateralslot.
 7. The locking assembly of claim 6, wherein the locking camincludes a protrusion having the lateral slot formed therein, and theelongated lever of the handle assembly is coupled to the protrusion forlateral movement relative thereto along the longitudinal axis defined bythe slot.
 8. A locking assembly for a door of a storage container, thestorage container defining a door frame, the door movably mounted to thedoor frame, the locking assembly comprising: a lockrod configured to becoupled to the door; a locking cam coupled to an end of the lockrod andadapted to engage a lockrod keeper coupled to the door frame; and ahandle assembly coupled to the locking cam, wherein the handle assemblyincludes an elongated lever having one end coupled to the locking camand a handle pivotably coupled to an opposite end thereof, wherein thehandle includes a lock member having a longitudinal axis and configuredto pivot with the handle relative to the elongated lever about an offsetpivot axis that is spaced-apart from and parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the lock member, and wherein pivoting movement of the lockmember about the offset pivot axis from a first position to a secondposition urges the elongated lever to move axially toward the lockingcam.
 9. The locking assembly of claim 8, wherein the offset lock memberis configured to be received through an aperture in the door frame inorder to lock the door to the door frame when the offset lock member isin the second position.
 10. The locking assembly of claim 8, wherein thelocking cam includes a lateral slot and the elongated lever isconfigured to move axially along the lateral slot relative to thelocking cam between a first, unlocked position and a second, lockedposition, and wherein the elongated lever is closer to the lockrod whenthe elongated lever is in the second, locked position than when thelockrod is in the first, unlocked position.
 11. The locking assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the offset lock member is coupled to a first end of thehandle that is pivotably coupled to the elongated lever, and wherein asecond end of the handle is spaced-apart from the elongated lever whenthe offset lock member is in the first position and is adjacent theelongated lever when the offset lock member is in the second position.12. A locking assembly for a door of a storage container, the storagecontainer defining a door frame, the door movably mounted to the doorframe, the door being movable to and from a door locked position and adoor unlocked position, the locking assembly comprising: a lockrodconfigured to be coupled to the door; a locking cam coupled to an end ofthe lockrod and adapted to engage a lockrod keeper coupled to the doorframe; and a handle assembly coupled to the locking cam, wherein thehandle assembly includes an elongated lever having one end coupled tothe locking cam and a handle pivotably coupled to an opposite endthereof, wherein the handle includes means for urging the elongatedlever to move axially away from the locking cam while pivoting thehandle from the door unlocked position to the door locked position. 13.The locking assembly of claim 12, wherein pivoting the handle from theunlocked position to the locked position moves a protrusion on thehandle axially away from the locking cam while the protrusion engagesthe door frame to lock the door.
 14. The locking assembly of claim 12,wherein the protrusion includes a tab for engaging the door frame tolock the door.
 15. The locking assembly of claim 12, wherein the handleincludes means for urging the elongated lever to move axially toward thelocking cam while pivoting the handle from the door locked position tothe door unlocked position.
 16. The locking assembly of claim 12,wherein pivoting the handle from the door locked position to the doorunlocked position moves a protrusion on the handle axially toward thelocking cam while the protrusion disengages the door frame to unlock thedoor.
 17. The locking assembly of claim 12, wherein movement axiallyfacilitates locating lock members relative to locking passageways in thedoor frame so that the lock members can be guided therein.
 18. Thelocking assembly of claim 17, wherein one of the passageways iskey-shaped.
 19. The locking assembly of claim 12, wherein pivoting thehandle from the door unlocked position to the door locked position movesthe handle through approximately 180°.
 20. The locking assembly of claim12, wherein pivoting the handle from the door unlocked position to thedoor locked position pivots the handle about an offset pivot axis.